Metro
Three Confirmed Dead As Brake-Failed BRT Rams into Market
Three persons were confirmed dead and several others injured on Wednesday when a Bus Rapid Transit vehicle rammed into a market fence at Alapere in the Ketu area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the BRT, with number plate KSF-940XX, had a brake failure when the incident happened around 7am.
It was learnt that the driver lost control and rammed into the wall, hitting another commercial bus loading passengers.
An eyewitness, Chukwuemeka Sunday, said the BRT vehicle crushed a woman who was coming from the market, an apprentice trying to cross the road and a wheelbarrow pusher.
The victims were said to have died on the spot as the BRT driver fled the scene.
The eyewitness also said several others who were injured were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The Punch gathered that another BRT vehicle with the number plate, GGE-405YF, driving towards a BRT lane, was also affected.
When the Punch reporter visited the scene of the accident, policemen from the Alapere and Ketu divisions, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority were seen controlling the traffic.
Another eyewitness, Kelvin Olabode, lamented the condition of BRT vehicles in the area.
He said, “That BRT bus had a brake failure and rammed into people standing to board buses to Ikorodu. Three people died instantly and several others were injured. One of the deceased persons was crushed beyond recognition, with her brains splashed on the ground.
“Not all these BRT buses have brakes. They are used to dragging the road with smaller vehicles. Everyone is hustling like them. I saw the wheelbarrow pusher this morning hustling for his daily bread, but now he is gone.”
A witness, who did not mention her name for personal reasons, identified one of the deceased as her neighbor, Iya Bolu.
She noted that they were both coming from the market and she advised the victim to alight with her at Garage Bus-Stop, but she refused, saying she would find a bus faster at Ketu Bus-Stop.
“She then got a wheelbarrow to help her push her oranges and bananas to the bus stop, where she was hit by the bus. I have informed her husband,” she added.
Our correspondent observed that the father of the apprentice, identified as Lekan, broke down in tears on arriving at the scene.
“Death has wasted all my effort in life,” he muttered in Yoruba.
“The completion of his apprenticeship as a butcher was supposed to be on November 19. Death has wasted all my efforts and the money that I put into Lekan’s life,” the distraught father added.
The LASTMA Director of Public Affairs, Taofiq Adebayo, said the accident occurred around 7am and claimed three lives.
He said, “The accident involved a red BRT bus which had a brake failure, and a Volkswagen, popularly called Danfo.
“Preliminary investigation shows that the accident took the lives of three pedestrians waiting to board buses around the Ketu axis.
“The three dead persons were taken by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit to a mortuary and the eight people seriously injured were taken to a general hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.”
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed three deaths.
The Punch
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed the ban on the public parade of criminal suspects by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
This follows an earlier directive by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), prohibiting the practice.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the AGF had ordered the police to desist from parading suspects.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, reaffirmed the police chief’s commitment to upholding fundamental human rights and aligning with global best practices in policing.
“IGP Kayode Egbetokun has reiterated the ban on the public parade of suspects by the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force. This commitment by the IGP aims to uphold the fundamental human rights of every citizen and adhere to global best practices in policing by reiterating the standing directive prohibiting the public parade of criminal suspects before formal charges are filed in a court of law,” Adejobi stated.
He noted that the directive had previously been communicated to all police commands and zones as part of the force’s modernization efforts and dedication to respecting the rights of all individuals, including criminal suspects.
According to Adejobi, the policy aligns with international human rights standards, which prioritize the protection of human dignity throughout the judicial process.
Adejobi also called on the media and the public to support the directive by ensuring responsible reporting and ethical journalism.
He said, “This directive, previously communicated to all commands and zones within the Police Force, is a cornerstone of the Nigeria Police Force’s modernization efforts and reflects its dedication to respecting the fundamental rights of all individuals, including those suspected of criminal activity.
” The IGP emphasized that this policy is aligned with international human rights standards, which prioritize the protection and preservation of the dignity and rights of individuals throughout the judicial process.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to operating within the bounds of the law and promoting a culture of respect for human rights among its personnel. The IGP seeks the understanding and cooperation of the public, particularly members of the media, in adhering to this directive. Responsible reporting and adherence to ethical journalistic practices are vital in maintaining public trust and ensuring a fair and impartial justice system that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals.”
The Punch
The Lagos State Police Command has sealed off a church at the centre of a chilling murder investigation following the suspected killing of a 28-year-old Lagos State University (LASU) graduate, Adedamola Ogunbode.
The sealed premises is the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Oluwa Parish, in the Ojo area of the State.
Spokesperson of the police command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the sealing of the Church on Monday, while addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
According to Hundeyin, the Church, believed to be the scene of the gruesome crime, was sealed off to prevent it from being set ablaze by enraged members of the public.
“We received intelligence reports indicating that some people were planning to burn down the church in retaliation. We cannot allow that to happen. The location remains a crucial crime scene, and we may need to revisit it multiple times to gather further evidence,” Hundeyin stated.
The police have already taken three suspects into custody, including the church’s pastor, while a manhunt has been launched for five others.
Alarmingly, two of the wanted individuals are believed to have fled to neighbouring Benin Republic, further deepening the mystery surrounding the case.
The Lagos Police Command had initially declared Ogunbode a missing person. However, in a disturbing turn of events, investigators uncovered damning financial transactions that pointed to something far more sinister. Funds had been suspiciously moved from the victim’s account into those of the suspects, leading the police to reclassify the case as a suspected murder.
“We have intensified efforts to locate the victim’s body and uncover the full circumstances surrounding his tragic death,” Hundeyin assured.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has vowed that justice will be served.
“The command is fully committed to getting to the root of this heinous crime and ensuring that all those involved are brought to justice. However, we urge the public to remain calm and allow investigators to do their job without interference,” he stated.
A member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Lolo Isaiah Opuende, has dismissed an invitation from Governor Siminialayi Fubara for a crucial meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday.
In an online video, Opuende stated that it was time for the governor to “dey his dey” (be on his own) while the lawmakers would do the same.
Representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, Opuende recalled that when the political crisis began, their principal had warned that a time would come for both sides to go their separate ways.
He also questioned the mode of invitation transmission, arguing that it is not feasible for lawmakers to honor the governor’s request.
“How can you write a letter for the House of Assembly and put it on social media and expect us to come? The governor should write us the proper way,” he insisted.
